Fuse-block.



H. H. CURTIS.

FUSE BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.2a. 1914.

Patented Oct. 9,1917. 3 SHEETS-SHEET j ATTORNEY.

H. H. CURTIS.

FUSE BLOCK.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT. 23. I914.

Patented Oct. 9,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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A TTOR NE Y.

W I T ESSES:

H. H. CURTlS.

FUSE BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23. I914.

Patented Oct. 9,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. CURTIS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN'OR OF ONE-HALF T0 JAMES C. PHELPS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

FUSE-BLOCK.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1917.

Application filed September 23, 1914. Serial No. 863,103.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY H. CURTIS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of Springfield, county of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuse-Blocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fuse blocks or cut-outsfor electrical work of the type for use in double branch wiring, the main supply being located centrally of the block with the branches extending from each end thereof, the blocks being designed to be used in the usual panel boxes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuse block device that can be readily applied and assembled in panel boxes. The present rules of fire underwriters require that ample space must be provided within the cabinet so that it will not be necessary to run the wires upon the face of the panel board. The rules further require that this space must be partitioned ofi from the panel board face by a barrier extending from the base of the panel board to the front of the cabinet and firmly secured in position. The present method of constructing this barrier is to fit a piece of slate, or other insulating substance for each individual cabinet. This method is slow and expensive, as'it requires each piece of slate to be drilled with the necessary openings to receive the branch wires from the blocks. The present invention, therefore, is designed to do away with the necessity of fitting the barrier piece for each installation.

Theinvention, broadly, comprises a fuse block that is formed or molded from some suitable insulating material, as porcelain,

and having the barrier portion of the block made integral therewith and with openings for the branch wires also formed in these barriers. means for readily alining theblocks in position on the panel board with each other, for assembling, and to this end each block is formed with projections and recesses.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification Figure 1 is a view showing in plan view the manner of assembling the individual fuse blocks in a panel box. both the main and branch wires in place,

The invention, further, comprises This view shows and, the projections and recesses on the blocks inter-engaging each other.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the broken line 22 of Fig. 1, to illustrate, in detail, the barrier portion of the block, the outermost edge of which is engaged by the trim portion of the cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the block, partially in section, showing an opening through the barrier for one of the branch wires which is connected to the fuse plug, the centrally located partition, and the lower connecting strips between the fuse plugs.

Fig. 4 is an upper plan view of the fuse block.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the same showing the openings in the end barriers of the block. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the end blocks through which the main wires pass and which are connected to the bus-bars.

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 6, showing the entrance openings for the main wires, the centrally arranged partition and the barrier.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on the broken line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings in detail: 1

designates the usual panel box which is formed with the bottom 2 and elevated sides 3, as shown in Fig. 2. This box is also formed with openings for attaching the conduit pipes 4: and 5, at being considered the conduit in which the main leading-in wires are located, and 5 being the conduit in which branch wires are located. It will be noticed that this panel box contains individual sections of fuse blocks, indicated at 6, '7 and 8. These blocks are formed on their meeting edges with recesses 10 and projections 11, whereby they may be readily alined with each other and fitted together to form as many blocks as there are pairs of branch .wires. The block 9 is placed at the top and bottom of the end sections 6, 7, and 8 in order to make a finished structure andneat in appearance. 12 designates the space or gutter between the ends of the blocks 6, 7 and 8, and the sides 3 of the panel box. 13

' designates the fuse plugs, one for each'wire structing the fuse-blocks it has been found".

necessary to connect these portions with the body part of the fuse-block by filling in the space adjacent the lower part of the portions 14 with the upper. plane of the body part of the block with the insulating material which forms the block itself and making the inner surface of this material curved as shown. These curved surfaces extend from a point that is located a short, distance below the upper edge of the barriers to and merge into the plane of the upper surface of the block, these curved surfaces being part of a circle whose radius is equal to the height of the barriers above the plane of the upper surface of the block. This inner curved surface has been found in practice to be necessary, for in molding the blocks it prevents them from being broken off as they are drawn from the molds and While the porcelain is in a very soft or plastic state and before the baking or firing process commences. This construction also adds greatly to the appearance of the'block in making it more ornamental. This curved surface, as will 'be readily understood serves as a strengthening portion when the porcelain is being baked and also serves to prevent them from warping, which would cause the adjoining ribs and depressions 10 and 11 to assume a, position that would be out of alinement, or, so that they would not register with each other'when the blocks are assembled. Located midway of the length of the fuse blocks 6, 7, or 8 is a rib 18. 19 designates the bus-bars which are secured to' each of the blocks 6, 7, 8, etc., and also to the end blocks 9 by means of the screws 20. These bus-bars are electrically connected to the lower strips 21 by means of the metal posts 22 and the screws 23. The strips 21,

therefore, afford connection between the busbars and the fuse plugs 13, the bus-bars 19 being connectedjto the main lead wires 24, as shown. Thelend blocks 9 are formed with a rib partition 25.which re 'sters with the rib 18 of the blocks 6, 7, an 8.

The door or tri'r' n of the panel-box isindicated at 26 and when the same is closed it will register with the edge 27 of the barriers 14. By means of, this construction it will be seen that. forming the blocks 6, 7, 8, etc., with the barriers 14, the space 12 is entirely insulated from the interior of the panel affording ample space to run the wires 24.

It will be seen from this construction that I have provided a fuse block construction of the double branch type that can be readily assembled, and one that has formed integraltherewith, a barrier which extends from the base of the panel board to the front of the cabinet, also, one that will effectively separate the space or. gutter 12 of the panel-box in which the branch wires are placed, without its being necessary to place them upon the face of the panel-board.

It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of a barrier on each end of the fuse-blocks for double branch wiring, as it is equally a plicable to fuse-blocks or cut outs for singlb branch connections.

It is also understood that I do not limit myself to fuse-blocks in which a centrally located rib is used for two wire systems, as it is obvious that my invention is equally applicable to fuse blocks for three wire systems in which the centrally disposed rib would be replaced by two ribs in order to separate the three bus-bars.

It should be particularly noticed in regard to the construction of applicants fuseblock that the branch wire receiving openings or recesses 15 which extend upward from the bottom of the block are carried inward toward the center of the block far enough, so that when the recess in which the terminal 17 is placed is formed by the die the opening 15 through which the branch Wires 16 pass is formed. In other words the dies which are located on opposite sides of the barrier 14 when the block is molded pass by each other in opposite directions, whereby the opening 15 is formed, as readily understood. This wire-receiving opening is protected above by the large amount of insulating material", as clearly shown in Fig. 3. By forming the openings 15 in this manner the cost of the fuse-block is very much lessened, and, at the same time a block is formed that fully complies with the present rules of the fire underwriters. Fig. 2 clearly illustrates the passageway 12 between the barrier 14 and the wall of the panel-box. I It will be seen from Figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5 that the depression on the upper side of the block in which the terminal 17 is located is formed a slight distance below the upper surface of the block, thereby producing a structure so that the workman is greatly pression that is adjacent the fuse block 13 is so located or elevated by carrying this ter minal near the upper surface of the block that it is convenient for the workman to readily attach the branch wires to the terminal 17.

One important feature of my invention lies in locating the terminals 17 below the plane of the upper surface of main body portion of the block. The depressions for receiving the ends of the branch terminals that pass through the openings 15 and that terminate near the upper surface of the fuse brings or locates the live parts or wires below the surface of the insulating material and largely removes the'danger of short circuits when the workmen are making connections or performing other operations, as would be likely to occur should these terminal connections be located above or in the same plane as the upper surface of the blocks. A person using metallic tools is less liable to receive a shock if the terminals are embedded in and located below the surface. By having these terminals below the upper surface of the blocks they are practically embedded in the insulating material itself. This construction also adds much to the general appearance of the block itself.

What I claim is:

1. A fuse block section for panel boxes having side walls, the end portions of the block being formed with an integral elevated barrier portion having outside vertical walls and openings through the same, means for securing the blocks to said box, the height of the barrier being equal to the interior height of the box, whereby when the trim or door of the box is in place it will engage the upperedge of the barrier portion, fuse plugs located in the block, bus-bars attached thereto, and connecting means between the bus-bars and the fuse plugs.

2. In a panel-box, the combination, of a plurality of fuse blocks, each block being formed withintegral interengaging devices for alining the same, end blocks engaging the top and bottom fuse blocks, said fuse blocks and end blocks each having an elevated barrier portion at their ends, the fuse blocks having transverse openings through said barriers to receive branch wires, the openings in each of said blocks being completely surrounded with the insulating material of the barrier portion and located below the upper edge of the barrier portion, busbars, and electrical connections between the bus-bars and the branch wires.

3. A branch circuit fuse-block for attachment to a panel board or box for use in making electrical connections consisting of two or more sections secured together by one or more bus bar strips of electrical conducting material to which the feed-wires are adapted to be connected, said block having elevated barrier end-portions and openings therethrough below the upper edge of the endportions for the passage of the branch-wires, receptacles between the elevated barriers and the bus bar strips for receiving fuseplugs, and electrically connected to the busbar strips, end-blocks having end 'barrier portions of the same height as the end portions of the fuse-blocks for completing the building up of the fuse-block structure as desired, said blocks being secured to the bottom of the box the sides of which are equal in height to the height of the barrier portions, and of a length which is less than the width of the panel-box whereby a gutter is formed for the branch wires between the sides of the panel box and the end barrier portions, as described' 4. A fuse block formed with elevated end barrier portions and having'recesses extending from the inner surface of the barrier portions and from the lower edges of the outer ends of the said portions and intersecting each other in a common vertical plane, whereby lateral openings are formed through the elevated end barrier portions and below the upper edge of said portions for receiving branch wires, said lateral openings being completely surrounded by insulating material.

5. A fuse block formed with elevated end barrier portions, "said block having recesses located on the upper and lower sides of the block and intersecting each other on a common plane to form lateral openings through the elevated end barrier portion and below the upper edge of the elevated end barrier portions, the upper recess forming a depression for receivinga connecting terminal for a branch circuit, said lateral openings being completely surrounded by the material composing the block.

6. A fuse-block section having integrally molded elevated end barriers extendlng a considerable distance above the body portion.

of the block and having openings therethrough to receive branch wires and a reinforced curved inner surface extending from the top of the barriers to and merging into the plane of the upper surface of the section. 7. A fuse-block of the character described having integrally molded elevated end barrier portions with a reinforced curved inner surface and holes extending therethrough below the upper surface of the body portion for receiving branch wires, whereby the branch wire connections are embedded in the material composing the block and below the surface of the fuse-block.

I 8. A fuse-block of the character described having a body portion and elevated end barrier portions with curved inner surfaces molded integral with the body ortion and having depressions in the curve inner barrier surfaces and upper body surface to receive branch wire terminals, and channels or grooves in the outer ends of the body for intersecting said depressions to form openings for the branch wires to pass through.

9. A fuse-block section for a panel box, the end portions of said section being formed with elevated barriers which extend above the body part of the section and with openings extending laterally through saidportions for receiving branch-wires, the inner sides of the barriers being integrally connected'to the body portion by the material composing the block, said integral connection extending in a curved direction from the upper inner surface of the block nearly to the upper inner edges of the barriers, said curved surfaces being part of a circle whose radius is substantially the height of the barriers above the plane of the upper surface of the block and merging into the upper surfaces of the block on lines that are distant from the barriers substantially equal to the height of the barriers, whereby the barriers are materially strengthened and their direction will be maintained at right angles to the upper surface during the molding process.

HENRY H. CURTIS.

Witnesses: HARRY W. BOWEN,

H. E. HARTWEIL. 

